Carbomer

Carbomer Description

Carbomers are a group of synthetic skin care ingredients used primarily to create gel-like formulations. They can also influence a product’s texture in other ways by having a thickening/viscosity-controlling effect.

Studies have shown that carbomer gel formulations can increase skin permeation and retention of key active ingredients.

Carbomer helps with emulsion and product stability, and the alkyl modified versions (i.e. Pemulen) can function as emulsifiers by themselves.

Carbomers are utilized in a wide range of beauty products beyond skin care, including makeup and hair care items, where they function as suspending agents for materials such as capsules and solid materials, and help in maintaining product viscosity at elevated temperature.

The Cosmetic Ingredient Review Expert Panel recently re-reviewed carbomer’s safety and reaffirmed that concentrations up to 15% are safe as used in personal care products. As a raw material, carbomers come in the form of light, fluffy, white powders. Note: High amounts of carbomers in a gel may result in the product rolling or balling up of cosmetic products on skin, but this phenomenon depends on other formulary steps taken to minimize this effect.